ABSTRACT
The porta hepatis of the liver is a very important area surgically. The knowledge of the variations in the structures passing through the porta hepatis might be of great help in reducing the risks of surgery in this area. In the current study 59 livers from South Indian cadavers were observed for the number and arrangement of the structures passing through the porta hepatis. In all the livers the portal vein was posteriormost and the hepatic duct was the anteriormost structure. The hepatic artery and its branches were in between the duct and the vein. The mean weight of the liver was 1.025 kg. The mean length of porta hepatis was 4.825 cm and the mean breadth was 2.433 cm. The number varied from one to three for the duct and vein but for the artery it was between one and four. In 51% of livers, only one vein and in 80% of cases only one duct passed through the porta hepatis. In 56% of cases two arteries passed through the porta hepatis.
La fisura porta hepática del hígado es un área quirúrgica muy importante. El conocimiento de las variaciones en las estructuras que pasan a través de la fisura porta hepática puede ser de gran ayuda para reducir los riesgos de la cirugía de esta región. En el presente estudio se observaron 59 hígados procedentes de cadáveres del Sur de la India, en relación al número y disposición de las estructuras que pasan a través de la fisura porta hepática. En todos los hígados, la vena porta hepática fue el elemento más posterior y el conducto hepático común el más anterior. La arteria hepática y sus ramas se ubicaban entre el conducto hepático común y la vena porta hepática. El peso medio de los hígados fue 1,025 kg. La longitud media de la fisura porta hepática fue 4,825 cm y el ancho medio de 2,433 cm. El número varió de uno a tres para el conducto y la vena. El número de arterias varió entre una y cuatro. En 51% de los hígados, sólo una vena pasaba a través de la fisura porta hepática y en el 80% de los casos sólo pasaba un conducto. En el 56% de los casos, dos arterias pasaban a través de la fisura porta hepática.
Subject(s)
Humans , Bile Ducts/anatomy & histology , Hepatic Artery/anatomy & histology , Liver/anatomy & histology , Portal Vein/anatomy & histology , Cadaver , IndiaABSTRACT
Facial vein is the main vein of the face. Though its origin is constant, it frequently shows variations in its termination. We report a rare type of variation of facial vein. The right facial vein coursed transversely across the masseter, superficial to the parotid duct and entered into the substance of the parotid gland, at its anterior border. Deep dissection of the gland revealed the abnormal termination of facial vein into the superficial temporal vein. The transverse facial vein drained into the facial vein. The superficial temporal vein after receiving the facial vein continued as retromandibular vein. Knowledge of this anomalous course and termination of facial vein may be important for the surgeons doing parotid, maxillofacial and plastic surgeries.
ABSTRACT
Though ulnar arterial variations are rare, superficial ulnar artery (SUA) is one of its commonest variations. During routine dissection in our department, we observed a unilateral case of SUA in a 70-year-old male human cadaver. It originated from the left brachial artery in the middle of the arm, 13cm above the medial epicondyle of humerus (15cm below the outer margin of first rib). From its origin, it passed downwards in the medial part of arm and forearm in a superficial plane compared to normal ulnar artery. In the hand, the SUA anastomosed with the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, creating the superficial palmar arch. The superficial palmar arch gave additional branches to the thumb and index finger. Brachial artery divided into the radial and common interosseous arteries in the cubital fossa. The normal ulnar artery was absent. The existence of a SUA is undeniably of interest to the clinicians as well as to the anatomists. We hereby present a case of unilateral SUA along with a brief review of the literature and analysis of its clinical significance.
ABSTRACT
This study analysed cases of fungal endocarditis following cardiac surgery encountered in our institute between January 1994 and December 1997. A total of 887 prosthetic valve and 114 homograft valve replacements were performed during the study period. In this group, eight cases of fungal endocarditis (aged 14-53 years) were encountered during the follow-up of which five were caused by candida species and three by aspergillus species. Four cases involved aortic homografts, two mitral prosthesis, one an aortic prosthesis and one was a Goretex patch endocarditis. Seven patients had early endocarditis; all presented with fever and two had embolic manifestations. Seven patients each had positive blood cultures and echocardiographically demonstrable vegetations. Despite management with amphotericin B and early repeat surgical interventions, six had a fatal outcome. One patient is doing well at nine months follow-up after a second valve replacement and one is lost to follow-up.